Hours. It takes hours to get ready for a wedding. As a woman who loves to primp, you’d think I would be in heaven.
Not even close.
I was exhausted, cranky, and getting side-eyed by my bridesmaids for a mystery mark on my collarbone that took the makeup artist half an hour to cover.
Abruptly standing, I said, “I’ll be right back.”
“The wedding’s about to start.” Ashley frowned.
“I just need a minute alone.”
Jazz scoffed. “Are you about to pull a runner?”
“No, I just want to be alone for a second.” I went out the side door. There was a small bench under a tree, but I figured sitting in the shade wasn’t worth getting bitched out for a couple of wrinkles.
“Aren’t you supposed to be inside?”
I spun on my heel and came face to face with Beth. “What are you doing here?”
“I was invited, along with every politician in the Midwest.”
I sighed, shutting my eyes as I tilted my face toward the sun.
“You never called me back.”
She had to be fucking kidding. On what planet would I be accepting her phone calls while she was trying to ruin the casino plans and talk shit about my husband? “What was there to say?”
“You’re marrying a Moretti.”
I pinned Beth with a glare. “That’s none of your business. That stopped being your business three years ago.”
“That was your choice, not mine!” Her voice was clipped as her chest heaved with the effort of her stilted words.
“You’re right, so why are you still coming around?”
“I love you,” she grumbled.
“No. You love what you want me to be. You hated the real me.”
“I did not—”
“You did,” I said calmly. The sting had gone out of my memories of my relationship with Beth. Being with Luca muted all that pain and insecurity. “You hate my choice of partner.”
She rolled her eyes. “You can say husband. I know you’re married.” When I frowned, she pointed at herself. “Mayor. I have connections.”
“About those connections. Are you really going to contest the casino?”
“If it’s the right thing to do, yes.”
“Unbelievable.”
“What’s unbelievable is that you’re married to a man being investigated for murder.”
“You seem to know an awful lot about what’s going on in my life. Have you been watching us?” Beth blinked rapidly at me, her mouth twisting before turning toward the church to make a quick escape, but I grabbed her arm. “You have! You’re watching us?” I hissed, my eyes scanning the area for eavesdroppers.
She ripped her arm from my hold, her heel catching a hole in the grass. “I paid a guy, but he went MIA.”
Her words hit like a whip. “It was you.” I shook my head. “You paid a PI to follow me?” Leaning in, I looked her right in the eye. “You could’ve gotten yourself killed. As it is, he paid for your curiosity.”